Chemical garden and method of making the same



May 18 1926. 1,5843% G.C.KRUG

CHEMICAL GARDEN AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Sept. 5, 1925 Geozy G Amalie-M31012 z'fieii fie i zember This invoiiiion rio'ics to o obemicai' gar dfill and more pa ricuiariy to artificial! 'vcgoifiation smd metiioii of forming the some from inorganic SfiiiZFj.

It has long been imown that salts of the heavier metals have a tendency to grow when food in o soiut'ioii of socimm silicate box as is known this knowiedgo has any preoiicei application.

objocfi off this" invention Jv'oi eciuoaisionsii device If "i chef Li ioriiiiori omit-aiming a: t. orjiangcii' eeo beam eicvet-ional View of a device embodying the [principles or my invention, showing a chemicoi garden fuii grown.

As shown on "the drawing:-

in preparing my eiiemicai gimion I use a sciatic-In of sodium siiiozite, preferabiy from 5 to degrees Bani-no, with a ratio of sodium oxidie to silica ranging from 1 to 1.5, l to While many Weiss. soiubio mm" suits are suitable for forming artificial yegotoi ion in a solution of sodium silicate, I ne'vc'seieci'ed a variety of salts adapted to five a. wide range of colored vegetation. To produce a violet vegetation I use such cobalt oiie es the chloride, nifiraie or suiphate, Copper suite in generai give blue coloration and of the veriouo Water soluble copper salts I meniioii ouprio bromide, chloride, phosphate, nitrate or sulphate, or cuprous sulphate. A reddish brown color is obtained by usin an iron salt such as a forrous bromide, o ioricie and sulphate. To obtain a. green coior E use a nickel sei prof; orobiya suiphace or o, imiicic. Mongeoous nous met-ah THE SAJJ'KE.

'J 'lil ies ail uranium on bi; yeiiow form of ii halides, itraies phosphates or give a Wiiite coioreri growth, :Ebe other hand s1. vegoizi iion. wi'ion edciezi ii: i. halide or M When or to e, soiii'i -m o; 1" salts oiiiiier or 7121 wluie coznmouse to "Filo eizoianaiion of this '2; the s b Veto ex- (3G})5 iii8"i Mom seqoonii ii; o

o wwtci s oiziiioil of a, soiiibio sin to, o o siiicoiao of 52o salt, due the wisdom of the wotor Lie in into solution it exerts a uni of os ioiio pressure, bonding to ,ougii no msoiuble coming,

OSJDOL'AG 13385553113? 1 you to no the insoluble com on o SiGlfl oi. the salt h es piece. with cermain of the salts this expansion is very rapid and iii .oost continuous so that i it is easily percepbibieio tho human eye. in oiher salts the growth is siower and roquircs matter of hours before completion. continues uni'aii suiiioioni: Water has combined with the Waier soiubie sol; io reduce, its osmotic pressure to such an extent that it no iongcr ruptures 5gb ouiar'insoiubie ooaibii'ig. Incioiox "Hy, dur. g tho growth of the seiis bubbico, probably of air coming out L c soiuiiozi, are formed on tho growahs. Mass bubbies in their iemicnoy to rise assist in directing the I sprouts as they form toward the surface by musing e, buoyant action upon them.

In my chemical garden iiiimfiiote i in the drawing 1 have .Lwn a 'fliififipfiibfli; giobo or aquarium i which is preferably egberiozil iii shape, such shape tondo to magnify the cements of ie aquarium, im the aqua rimn l, first J8 o, oils 2 and red sea, beans 3, or oihor deooreiiro ariioies I iiaen pour :2. solution of sodium silica-ho of suitsibic into iioiiorium, filling. the some up 0 its nook debit-s of the la-- above oi iimorateci are nexi; added in sufcientquantifies to give a fairiy dense fvegetotion, as may be determined by experiment. These salts should be as anhydrous as possible and must, therefore, be kept in a closed retainer, sinco meny of i-hergcro hygroscopic. To obtain the full The growth nos no i

range of colors available I add a few crystals of each of the various metallic salts. After this is done a suitable cover, such as a watch crystal, should be placed over the mouth of the aquarium 1 in order to prevent evaporation of the solution and dust from falling into the solution. The iron salts are among the first to start to grow, a knobby like growth appearing almost immediately. \Vhen full grown the vegetation resulting is of irregular knotty formation, as indicated at 5. The cobalt salts also groit very rapidly into a ribbon-like growth 6. Other salts form frond-like vegetation" 7, and still others bunch up to form clusters 8. The appearance of the combined growths of the various salts is especially artistic and beantiful as a result of the various colors produced and the delicate stalks and branches resembling real vegetation. The artistic effect is further heightened by the addition of pearly shells, brilliantly colored sea beans and the like. When the whole is viewed through the magnifying effect of the transparent aquarium it is indeed a very artistic and realistic sight.

A chemical garden such as above described is of considerable educational value as it prompts the observer to investigate the cause of such an unusual phenomenon as that of inorganic chemical salts sprouting in the same way as vegetable and plant seeds.

The chemical garden further provides a novelty that serves the place of a toy in the home.

As the artificial vegetation, when fully grown, is not only beautiful but permanent, if not violently disturbed, it forms a lastin ornament in the household.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range witho,ut departing from the principles of this invention. and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The process of making a chemical garden, which comprises adding to a water solution of a silicate a plurality oi difi'erent salts o't'the heaver metals.

The process of making a chemical garden, which comprises adding to 1 water solution of an alkali silicate a plurality of water soluble salts of cobalt, copper, iron. nickel, manganese, uranium and other nonalkali metals.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEO. O. KRUG. 

